June 5, 2007
It’s funny how much has been written on the subject of LOL Catz, of icanhascheezburger.com and how deceivingly simple the concept is.
The Catz’, surprisingly erudite Wikipedia entry claims the language used in LOL Catz submissions (”I haz ur…,” “O hai!,” “Halp!”) is a linguistic pidgin. However, as a grad student from Colorado who goes by LinguisticMystic correctly asserts, the language of icanhascheezburger is actually a devient dialect (pidgens are ad-hoc combinations of langs). The dialect is so well realized that even a programming language has emerged in which the lingo of LOL Catz can be used to execute simple computer commands (click here for LinguisticMystic’s post on that subject).
However, what’s most interesting to me is the participation aspect of LOL Catz and how icanhasacheeseburger, in essence, is a way people can take part in the media experience. Write something funny/cute/odd enough and it’ll go around the world. The language is distinct because it counters the form’s simplicity. These are pictures of cats. No high profile comedians, pouty divas, special effects or superstar writers/directors are involved, yet they seem in some cases to cast the same net. Who hasn’t choked on their lunch whilst taking in LOL Catz such as Wookie Armour or Ceiling Cat? Scrolling through the pages of icanhascheezburger.com (the original LOL Catz archive) I certainly derive more pleasure than watching say, that new annimated penguin movie.
What’s also surprising is that a lot of people still don’t get it: you know, the whole Internet thing. This column claims that “computer geeks” are the only ones having fun with these images. The columnist has clearly never heard of MySpace, which is the sort of funny image & video global market place. And to dismiss the manipulation of the language as nuance, or worse, a quirk, is a grave mistake. LOL Catz may be in our “culture” making us “LOL!!!1!” but the precision of this language, and the complexity of the emotions behind it are undeniably significant. It may be funny (rather, it IS funny), but I’m tempted to think we’re looking at something far more precious than just a kitty cat.
